Toy track system



Jan. 8, 1952 E, F|EL`D$ 2,581,583

TOY TRACK SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1947 INVENTOR ERNEST FIELDS PatentedJan. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY TRACK SYSTEM Ernest Fields,New York, N. Y.

Application April 18, 1947, Serial No. '742,257

(Cl. ll6-202) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to toy road systems, particularly to toy roadsystems in which one or more vehicles driven by a conventional drivingmechanism .travel over an open or endless track system.

One object of the invention is a track system including a peculiar trackarrangement and means to enable a vehicle running on such a track systemto follow this peculiar track arrangement.

Another object of the invention is a track system including at least onenarrow curve and means for guiding a vehicle running on such a trackthrough said narrow curve.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which guide thevehicle through a curve through which the vehicle could not pass withoutsuch means.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for guiding avehicle through a narrow curve of the track system which areautomatically made effective when a vehicle enters the curve and whileit is passing through the curve.

The abrupt changes of direction of a vehicle running over a track systemas made possible by the invention are very amusing and surprising toobserve. The effect is particularly surprising when the curves or loopsincluded in the track system are so narrow that without the peculiarmeans according to my invention a vehicle could not pass the curve butwould be thrown off the track.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by theappended claims.

The word vehicle as used in the specication shall include any kind ofmovable object driven by any suitable driving means. Such objects mayhave the shape. of vehicles within the usual meaning of this word butthis term shall also include objects having the shape or dolls, animals,etc. The expression track shall include any suitable path over whichsuch driven objects can be moved.

In the accompanying drawing an embodiment of a toy road system accordingto my invention is shown.

Fig. l is a top plan view of the toy road system showing a vehiclerunning over the track in diilerent positions.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal `section along line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale,and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section along line 5 4 of Fig. 1.

lll is a base plate of any suitable shape supporting the tracks. Thetracks include two straight sections I I each of them comprising twopairs of parallel rails I2 serving as guides for a vehicle running overthe tracks. Rails I2 are joined at each end at I4 and extended into 'twosingle curved sections I3 constituting part of a circle and separated bya gap. The invention, of course, is not limited to the illustrated trackarranged but any other suitable arrangement of the tracks can beprovided. It is essential merely that the track system includes at leastone narrow curve.

Approximately in the center of the circle of which each curved sectionI3 forms part, there is provided a rounded-off projection I5 having aslot or a recess I6 in its elevated surface. The shape of these slots isapparent from Fig. 1. Both slots IS are aligned with a trough or grooveil which is parallel to and between the straight track sections i2.Slots I6 serve as guiding means for guiding a vehicle passing from oneof the straight track sections to the other.

A vehicle running on the track system may have any conventional shape,for instance that of a race car i3. The vehicle may be driven by aspring operated mechanism or any other conventional driving mechanism.The distance between its wheels I9 corresponds to the gauge of rails I2so that vehicle I8 is guided by these rails while running over straighttrack sections II.

As is evident from Fig. 1, vehicle I8, by reason of size, could notfollow curved track sections I3 even if these sections would not beseparated by gaps. The radius of these curved sections is so small thatvehicle I8 would leave the track. To

guide vehicle I8 safely through thecurved Vsec-V tions, even if runningat a comparatively high speed, there is provided according to theinvention, a rigid, downwardly bent arm 2B extending from the side ofthe vehicle toward and into groove Il and bent up near its tip. This armis arranged approximately at the center of the car between wheels I9. Inthe embodiment shown, the arm has the shape of a tongue but any othersuitable shape may also be used. It is also possible to provide a slopedbar or rod which extends from the inner side of the car. However, theillustrated shape is preferred since it has been found that good resultscan be obtained with a tongue-shaped arm extending from the center ofthe car between wheels I9. Arm `20 can be secured by any suitable means,for instance by welding, to the body of vehicle I8. Near the upwardlybent tip of arm 20, an extension or nose 2| is provided which may beformed by pressing and punching arm 20 or which may consist of aseparate element suitably fastened to arm 20. It is also possible tobend arm 20, which may have the illustrated shape or be made from asimple strong wire, in such a manner that a nose is formed at its end.

In the embodiment shown only one vehicle is running on the track but itis also possible to have several vehicles running on the same track andin the same direction.

The operation of the toy road system according to the invention is asfollows: Vehicle I8 is wound up and set on one of the straight sectionsII of the track system, for instance-where shown by dotted lines, to runcounterclockwise as indicated by arrows. The tip of arm 20 with its nose2| will then move within groove I1 while the vehicle'is running throughthe respective straight section II. (See Fig. 4). As soon as the vehiclereaches the respective curved section I3, nose 2l of arm 20 engages slotI8 of the respective projection I5 while the tip of arm 28 slides overthe surface of projection I5. This prevents a further linear movement ofthe vehicle and the propelling power of its driving mechanism will swingthe vehicle along Ycurved section I3 and about slot i6 as center ofYrotation center, arm acting as a swing arm or lever. The vehicle willswing around until it re-engages the opposite curved curved section I3and finally reaches the other straight track section I I. As soon as thevehicle has reached this position, nose 2| of arm 28 will no longer beheldby slot I6 since this slot opens into trough II. Consequently, noseZI will slide out of slot I6 and the vehicle will run forward on thestraight section until it reaches curved section I3 at the other end ofsection II. Then the same cycle is repeated.

Fig. 1 shows in dotted lines a car I8 approaching a curved section andin full lines the position of a car between a pair of curved sectionsI3. Nose 2I of its arm 20 has engaged slot I8 and it is obvious that arm20 forms a swing arm around which the rotation of the vehicle takesplace.

The invention shall not be limited to the embodiment shown in thedrawing.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A toy road game comprising a track system including two substantiallystraight tracks terminating at each end in an inwardly curved partialktrack, respective curved tracks forming a connection separated by a gapbetween said two straight tracks, a self-propelled vehicle for saidtrack system havin-g wheels iixed relative to the vehicle body in aposition for straight travel, pivotingV rst catch means positionedadjacent to each end of the straight tracks, and second catch meansprovided on said vehicle, said second catch means being arranged toengage the first catch means when the vehicle enters one of the assisescurved tracks to form a compulsory center of each end in a curved trackportion, respective 4 curved track portions forming part of a circleseparated by a gap between adjacent ends to said straight tracks, aself-propelled vehicle for said track having wheels xed relative to thevehicle body and set for straight travel, a first catch member providedsubstantially in the center of each circle part formed by said curvedtrack portions, a second catch member provided on said vehicle, each ofsaid first catch kmembers being engageable with the second catch memberwhen said vehicle enters a circle part to form a compulsory, center ofpivoting for said vehicle while in motion and to gudie the latterthrough the respective circle part, each of the rst catch membersreleasing the second catch member when the vehicle re-enters a straighttrack.

3. AY toy'road Igame comprising a base, two

substantially straight tracks on the base termi-V nating at each end ina curved track portion, respective curved track portions facing one theother separated by a gap and forming part of a partial circular trackincluding said gap and extending between each two adjacent ends of thestraight tracks, a projectionY having a slot substantially in its centerprotruding from said base and positioned in the center of each of saidpartial circular track, a self-propelled vehicle for said track havingwheels fixed relative to the vehicle body and set for straight travel,and an arm laterally extending yfrom said vehicle and shaped to enga-gethe respective slot when said vehicle enters a curved track portion toform a compulsory center of pivoting for said' vehicle while in motionand to guide the latter from one straight track to the other,` said armbeing disengaged from the respective slot when said vehicle re-enters astraight track.

4. A toy road game comprising a base, two substantially straight tracksdisposed on the base substantially parallel to each other andterminating at each end in a circularly curved track portion, respectivecurved track portions facing one the other separated by a gap andforming a connection including said gap between respective adjacent endsof said straight tracks, a selfpropelled vehicle for said track systemhaving wheels fixed relative to the vehicle body in a position forstraight travel, an arm extending from said vehicle, a projection havinga slot in its surface protruding from the base and positionedsubstantially in the center of said circularly curved track portions,said base having a groove disposed between said two straight tracksparallel thereto and connecting said slots, said arm being arranged toextend into said groove when the vehicle is on one of said straighttracks and to engage a respective slot when the vehicle enters one ofsaid curved track portions so as to form a compulsory center of pivotingfor said vehicle While in motion and to guide the Vehicle from onestraight track to the other, each of said slots being shaped to releasethe said arm when the vehicle re-enters one of the straight tracks.

5. A toy road game as described in claim 4, wherein said arm extendsdownwardly terminating below the base plane on which the vehicle wheelsare supported and extending into said groove.

6. A toy road game as described in claim 5, wherein a downwardlyextending nose is provided at the end of said arm, said nose beingengageable with Vthe respective one of said slots when the vehicleenters one of said curved track portions and extends into said groovewhen the vehicle is on one of said straightv tracks.

2,581,583 5 6 7. A toy road game as described in claim 6, REFERENCESCITED wherein each of said slots has substantially the The followingreferences are of record in the shape of a circle sector, the centers ofsaid sectors fue of this patent. forming the aforesaid compulsorycenters of pivoting and the circumferences of the sectors i UNITEDSTATES PATENTS facing one the other. Number Name Date 8. A toy trackgame as described in claim 4. 2,068,403 Ekstrom Jan.19, 1937 whereinsaid arm extends from approximately 2,387,359 schmidt oct, 3o, 1945 thecenter portion of the side Wall of the vehicle facting said groove whenthe vehicle is placed g4; FOREIGN PATENTS upon one ofrthe straighttracks. Number Country Date ERNEST FIELDS. 473,950 Great Britain Oct.22, 1937

